Minister Yoo Inchon: "Visiting Wildfire-Affected Areas Is the Best Way to Help"

"Many people hesitate to visit the affected areas because they wonder if it's appropriate to travel there after the disaster, but that's precisely why visitors have stopped coming. In fact, we need even more tourists to come."

Yoo Inchon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, made these remarks during his visit to Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which was damaged by the wildfire, on April 23, 2025. Upon arriving at Daegae Street, one of Yeongdeok's main attractions, Minister Yoo expressed his regret, saying, "This is the first time I've seen Daegae Street so empty." Minister Yoo toured major tourist sites and attractions in Yeongdeok and promised that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism would provide its utmost support for swift recovery efforts.

After visiting Daegae Street, Minister Yoo, together with Yeongdeok County officials and representatives of the local merchants' association, inspected Samsa Marine Park, Samsa Marine Trail, the Haepalanggil section of the Korea Dullegil trail along the East Sea, and Course 4 of the Blue Road to assess the situation on the ground.

Yoon Inchon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited Ddagaebi Village in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk, an area affected by wildfires, on the 23rd to inspect the site.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Yoon Inchon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is visiting Ddagaebi Village in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk, an area affected by wildfires, on the 23rd to inspect the site.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Touring the wildfire-affected areas, Minister Yoo said, "The residents are likely suffering from significant psychological trauma right now," and emphasized, "Whether it's the central government or local governments, we must work together to ensure a rapid recovery. Restoring the damage is something that must be done urgently."

Minister Yoo stressed that, above all, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will devise various measures to help the affected areas recover, such as promoting tourism and providing accommodation vouchers, so that tourists will return to the region in large numbers.

He emphasized, "Many people should visit the affected areas, spend time there, and stay overnight, so that the region can recover and come back to life."

Yoon Inchon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk, a wildfire-affected area, on the 23rd to inspect Course 21 of Haepalanggil, the East Sea section of the Korea Dullegil trail.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Yoon Inchon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited Andong, Gyeongbuk, a wildfire-affected area, on the 23rd and inspected the Jjimdak Alley in Andong Old Market.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, together with local governments, tourism-related organizations, and the tourism industry, are launching the "Travel+Companion Campaign" to support residents of wildfire-affected areas. The campaign will focus on enhancing benefits for visitors, restoring the region's tourism image through domestic and international promotion, developing region-specific travel products, and encouraging the hosting of major events and workshops in the area. Minister Yoo's visit to Yeongdeok on this day was also part of the Travel+Companion Campaign.

Kim Junghoon, Director General of Tourism Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "We launched the 'Spring for Travel' campaign in March, but we believe a separate campaign is needed to encourage people to visit wildfire-affected areas more intensively, so we are discussing this with relevant ministries. Although the Spring for Travel campaign was originally planned to run until the end of May, we now think it should be extended into the summer."